Mr. Fred "Duck" Watts

Mr. Fred “Duck” Watts of Tampa, FL passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, 11:00 a.m. at Ray Williams Memorial Chapel, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606 with Pastor Wallace Bowers, officiating. Interment will be held on Monday, March 17, 2025, in Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513.

Mr. Fred was a native of Carver City/ West Tampa, and a resident of Tampa for 92 years. He attended Hillsborough County Schools. He was employed as a Skycap at Eastern/ Delta Airlines.

Mr. Fred was preceded in death in death by: his three sons, Curtis Watts, Johnny Watts, and Jack Watts; grandson, Wayne Fogle; mother, Maetta Thomas and father, Nathaniel Watts; brothers, Samuel Thomas, Joseph Brantley, Shellie Thomas, and W.C. Thomas; his precious sister, Idella Jones Lee; nephew, Omar Edwards; and son-in-law, George Shuman.

He leaves to cherish his memory: her son, Nathaniel Watts (Debra Eskridge); daughters, Shelly W. (Horace), Jacqueline W. Shuman, Rita Edwards, Pamela Edwards, Angela Watts, and Ethel Watts; Extended Children, Aillene and Michael Coleman, Diane Miller, Edgar Wilcox, and Sylvia Odom; grandchildren, Eddie McMillan (Arneatra), Joy Watts, Charlene Edwards, Shannon Edwards, Dominique Edwards, Bennie McGee, Symone Watts (Shirley), Monique, Rene Andrews (Leon), Guy Freeman, Jamaal Watts, Natavia Watts, Nae’Lynn Watts, Zaire Watts, Nyheme Watts, Lyric Young, Quianisha, Joseph, Dimitria, Curtis, Benjamin, and Nicky Zellner; a host of great grandchildren; devoted family members, Valerie Goodman, Delores Copeland (AC), Yvonne Williams, Ivalita Woods, Paulette Debose, Hill Family, Davis Family, Stacey Family, Brantley Family, Shirley T. Watts, and Cheryl Carrington; God Daughters, LaToya Wingfield, and Shantel Hemmingway; devoted friends, Brandon Jones, Brenda Wade, Michael Trigg, Eric Trigg, Melvin Bell, Tommy Bell, Wanda Washington, Byrllaine Bell, Nelva Allen, Henderson Family, E. Daniels Family, and Dr. Margaret Fisher Family; and a host of other family and friends.

Special Thanks To: Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church, St. Joseph North Hospital & Staff, James A. Haley Hospital and Nurse Astrid.

A Visitation will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Ray Williams Memorial Chapel, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606.

Arrangements entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.

www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com 

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